Human Rights Networking

Main Human Rights Networks Intergovernmental Organizations Reports and Projects Calendar of Events News

Networks

The following is a list of human rights networks with global and regional foci. This list is not intended to be a comprehensive compilation of networks. If you would like to send us information on human rights networks that you are part of so we can consider adding it to this Web site section, please contact us at world@ned.org or via fax at +1-202-378-9889.

• International Networks
• Networks in Africa
• Networks in Asia
• Networks in the Americas
• Networks in Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia
• Networks in the Middle East and North Africa
• Professional Networks for Human Rights

International:

Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights. The AI Web site provides the latest human rights news, human rights information organized by country and region and human rights themes, access to appeals, action campaigns, and other resources. Detailed information about AI and its history is also available.
www.amnesty.org  

Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) is an international membership organization connecting, informing and mobilizing people and organizations committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women's human rights.
www.awid.org

Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) is a network of women scholars and activists from the economic South who engage in feminist research and analysis of the global environment and are committed to working for economic justice, gender justice, and democracy. DAWN works both globally and regionally in partnership with other global NGOs and networks in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Pacific.
www.dawnnet.org

Forefront is a global network of young human rights activists committed to promoting sustainable social change by providing protection and support to activists defending human rights in their communities. It facilitates the exchange of information, skills, and technology, and provides technical assistance to young activists.
www.orgs.takingitglobal.org/575

Human Rights Education Associates (HREA) promotes networking among human rights educators. The organization's Web site includes links to other human rights education organizations and resources organized by issue.
www.hrea.org

Human Rights House Network is a forum of cooperation among the established and emerging Human Rights Houses. Existing and emerging Human Rights Houses in Europe, Eurasia, and Africa are working communities of human rights organizations that collaborate on projects and are located in the same building (house).
www.humanrightshouse.org
Interview wiht Maria Dahle, Executive Director, Human Rights House Foundation

Human Rights Information and Documentation Systems, International (HURIDOCS), based in Geneva, is a global network of human rights organizations and individuals who strive for effective documentation and information management to defend, assert, and promote human rights.
www.huridocs.org 
Interview with Felisa Tibbitts, Executive Director

Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. HRW conducts extensive research and documents human rights violations in variety of human rights fields and around the globe. It also campaigns on behalf of individuals whose rights are violated, and on particular issues. The HRW Web site contains numerous reports, news, alerts, and other information.
www.hrw.org

International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) is a global network that brings together humanitarian and human rights NGOs as an advocacy alliance for humanitarian action.  Focusing on humanitarian and refugee policy issues, ICVA draws upon the work of its members at the field level and brings their experiences to international decision-making fora.  
www.icva.ch

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) is a coalition of more than 116 organizations around the world that work for effective improvements in the protection of victims, the prevention of human rights abuses, and the prosecution of those responsible.
www.fidh.org

International Human Rights Network is a nongovernmental organization based in Ireland that strives to apply human rights-based solutions in their work. They follow the principle that the enjoyment of human rights is both a means and the goal of development. The members of the network share this principle and come from across the range of related fields. They share and exchange their skills and knowledge through a variety of trainings and seminars, and offer pro-bono services to other NGOs sharing the network's principles.
www.ihrnetwork.org

International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a global network of first responders, humanitarian relief workers, healthcare providers, educators, community leaders, activists, and volunteers.  IRC provides access to safety, sanctuary, and sustainable change for millions of people whose lives have been shattered by violence and oppression.  IRC is a global leader in emergency relief, rehabilitation, protection of human rights, post-conflict development, resettlement services and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression.
www.theirc.org

Latin American and European Network on Human Rights (LAEHR) was set up in 2005 for cooperation between NGOs and Universities in Latin-America, Europe, and the United States in order to build up and to strengthen capacity in the field of human rights and to improve teaching and research capabilities so that a superior level of education in human rights can be reached.  The network aims to reinforce cooperation in the field of higher education between the European Union and Latin America.  
www.laehr.org/alfa.html

New Tactics in Human Rights project, led by a diverse group of international organizations and practitioners, promotes tactical innovation and strategic thinking within the international human rights community as an effective means for the human rights movement to expand options and possibilities.
 www.newtactics.org

Universal Rights Network is a meeting place for people from around the world to share their stories of the importance of universal human rights and freedom for all. The Web site contains the UN Declaration for Human Rights in 250 languages, as well as a simple version of the declaration in English. It includes links to major human rights bodies, numerous organizations, treaties, and people's stories.
www.universalrights.net

World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) is the world's largest coalition of nongovernmental organizations fighting against arbitrary detention, torture, summary and extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances and other forms of violence. Its global network comprises nearly 300 local, national and regional organizations, which share the common goal of eradicating such practices and enabling the respect of human rights for all.
www.omct.org  

Asia:

Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) focuses on the protection of human rights in Asia through the cooperation and sharing of information among human rights organizations in the region. It conducts various trainings, fact-finding missions, trial observations, and numerous advocacy and campaigns, and issues reports and publications.
www.forum-asia.org

Asia Pacific Human Rights Network (APHRN) is a network of human rights organizations and individual activists across the Asia Pacific region. APHRN seeks to address trans-Asia Pacific human rights issues in an effective manner by developing formal relationships with its individual and organizational members and increasing cooperation to address such issues.
www.aphrn.org

Banglarights, the Bangladesh Human Rights Network, is an independent Web portal that exposes and challenges discrimination and violations of human rights. The network champions the principles of democracy, gives voice to people at the grassroots level, and addresses social inequalities and domination at national and international levels.
www.banglarights.net

Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) is a distinguished network of foreign policy and human rights specialists who promote human rights in North Korea.  HRNK's guiding objectives are to monitor relief efforts; monitor economic assistance efforts; free North Korea's borders; inform the North Korean citizens; open communications; allow NGOs entry; and development of good economic principles.
www.hrnk.org

Human Rights Network is a meeting place for New Zealanders with an interest and commitment to human rights. The Network offers opportunities for frequent exchange of information, consultations with other human rights groups and activists, and rapid collective action and mobilization.
www.humanrights.net.nz

Network for North Korean Democracy and Human Rights (NKnet) is a network that joins citizens, North Korean defectors, students, and international groups who strive to alleviate suffering in North Korea through promoting human rights and democracy. It provides information on North Korea, publishes online newsletters, launches aid projects to benefit North Koreans and refugees, and is organizing the Committee for Truth about North Korea.
www.nknet.org   

South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre (SAHRDC) is a network of individuals across South Asia that seeks to investigate, document and disseminate information about human rights treaties and conventions, human rights education, refugees, media freedom, prison reforms, political imprisonment, torture, summary executions, disappearances and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
www.hrdc.net/sahrdc
Interview with Ravi Nair, Executive Director, SAHRDC

Vietnam Human Rights Network promotes human rights, civil liberties and other basic freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent international human rights instruments. The network utilizes modern communication facilities, such as the Internet, to achieve its mission and to improve communication and cooperation among the network members.
www.vnhrnet.org

AMERICAS

Derechos works with human rights organizations and activists throughout the world, though its current focus is Latin America. It was born as an Internet-based organization, with members in the United States, Latin America and Europe. Derechos is committed to creating and providing channels of communications among human rights organizations, activists and the public. It maintains several electronic discussion lists. Membership is open to anyone sharing Derechos' principles and abiding by its mandates.
www.derechos.org

Latin American and Caribbean Committee for the Defense of Women's Rights (CLADEM), is a women's and women's organizations network that in all Latin America and the Caribbean are committed to achieve an effective defense of women's rights. They form a network that articulates organizations and individuals committed in the defense and promotion of Women's Rights through different activities: formulating legislative proposals, researching, training, litigating, teaching at universities, informing, communicating and exercising solidarity actions.
www.cladem.org/english

Latin American and European Network on Human Rights (LAEHR) was set up in 2005 for cooperation between NGOs and Universities in Latin-America, Europe, and the United States in order to build up and to strengthen capacity in the field of human rights and to improve teaching and research capabilities so that a superior level of education in human rights can be reached.  The network aims to reinforce cooperation in the field of higher education between the European Union and Latin America.  
www.laehr.org/alfa.html

Latin American Federation of Associations for Relatives of the Detained-Disappeared (FEDEFAM) is a nongovernmental organization formed by associations of relatives of the disappeared in countries of Latin America and the Caribbean which have or are currently practicing forced disappearance. FEDEFAM is a non-profit humanitarian organization, independent of all political or religious doctrines and institutions. They have member associations with the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, México, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Perú, Uruguay. They are located in Caracas, Venezuela and they receive funds from individuals.
www.desaparecidos.org/fedefam

Montana Human Rights Network (MHRN) is a grassroots, membership-based organization of over 1,400 members. MHRN's mission is to promote democratic values such as pluralism, equality, and justice; challenge bigotry and intolerance; and organize communities to speak out in support of democratic principles and institutions.
www.mhrn.org

US Human Rights Network promotes United States accountability to universal human rights standards by building linkages among organizations and individuals working on human rights issues in the United States. It maintains online discussion forums focusing on a variety of human rights themes; conducts trainings; and provides resources, such as publications, reports, and texts of international human rights conventions.
www.ushrnetwork.org/home.cfm

Middle East and North Africa:

Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (Hrinfo) is a central repository for human rights information and Web sites in Arabic throughout the Middle East and North Africa. It strives to magnify the voices of human rights defenders by placing their publications, campaigns, reports, and statements on the Internet.
www.hrinfo.net/en

Arab NGOs Network for Development (ANND) is an independent, democratic, and civic organization that aims at strengthening civil society and enhancing the values of democracy and respect of human rights and sustainable development.  It runs programs of advocacy and lobbying on regional and national policy-making regarding three main areas; development, trade, and democracy, while being committed to the international conventions on human rights and freedom.
www.annd.org

Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR) based in Cairo, Egypt, works with human rights defenders throughout the region to defend the rights of citizens. The AOHR carries out field missions in an effort to release political prisoners, document human rights complaints, and offer legal advice.
www.aohr.org

Arab Program for Human Rights connects activists from throughout the Arab region. The widespread program aims to highlight issues relevant to human rights activists worldwide and specifically in the Arab world. Its activities include human rights campaigns; seminars, workshops, and discussions; and training and communication. The program is building an extensive database that will include a variety of human rights organizations, individuals, and potential services they can offer to the rest of the human rights community.
www.aphra.org

Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) is composed of more than 80 organizations from 30 nations around the Mediterranean region. The overall objective of the EMHRN is to contribute to the protection and promotion of the human rights principles embodied in the Barcelona Declaration of November 1995 and in the bilateral association agreements between the EU and its Mediterranean partners.
www.euromedrights.net/7

Lebanese Council of Women (LCW) is an umbrella organization for some 170 organizations in Lebanon.  LCW aims to provide direction and vision to the activities of its member organizations by coordinating their efforts and mobilizing their potential towards the common goal of serving women's rights.
www.lcw-cfl.org

NGO Coordination Committee in Iraq (NCCI) is an autonomous body created by NGOs working in Iraq, with the aim to promote information sharing and coordination.  The purpose of NCCI is to provide a forum for collective NGO activity to enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian action in Iraq at the national level.   NCCI aims to advocate that human rights and international humanitarian law are respected and to ensure humanitarian needs are identified, well lobbied for, and met.
www.ncciraq.org